How cloves can help with toothaches!

Clove, known as laung in hindi is undoubtedly one of the best and most effective home remedy to get rid of toothache. Being easily available in every household, cloves are one of the widely used kitchen ingredient when it comes to oral hygiene. It is due to the powerful antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of this spice which makes it the best natural aid to combat tooth pain. In addition to providing instant relief from toothache, cloves are known to be effective in strengthening the gums and fighting against infections. Read more about health benefits of cloves.

You can use cloves in various ways to mitigate a toothache such as–

• Put a whole clove directly on the paining tooth and hold it in between your upper and lower teeth for few minutes. This causes slow release of chemicals from the clove which helps in soothing the pain and provides you a quick relief.
• Grind few cloves (around 4 – 5) by adding a few drops of olive oil and make a fine paste. Apply this paste directly on the aching tooth to get quick relief.
• You can also use clove oil to attain quick relief from tooth pain. Dab a cotton ball in clove oil and place it over the aching tooth. You will experience a feeling of numbness in the gums for few minutes and get relief from tooth pain.

Tip: Clove is a natural remedy that only provides temporary relief.  In case you experience excruciating tooth pain or are suffering from a long time, visit a dentist soon to know the cause and get rid of it quickly.

Source:  http://www.thehealthsite.com/oral-health/how-cloves-can-help-with-toothaches/

5 home remedies to relieve toothache

        

Toothache is caused due to a number of factors. It could be due to cavities, infection, exposed tooth root, gum disease, etc. It usually happens when the soft central region of the tooth called the pulp which consists of several highly sensitive nerve endings gets inflamed or infected.

It is advisable to seek the help of a dentist when it comes to toothache but there are a few natural techniques which can help relieve the pain temporarily. Here are top 5 ingredients which can help you fight your toothache.

Clove 

The humble clove or laung is the superman of home remedies when it comes to beating toothache. Clove has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anesthetic properties besides being rich in antioxidants. These properties are the secret ingredient that not only help alleviate tooth pain but also helps fight infection.

• You can take a clove and place it on the affected tooth and bite on it.

• You can grind a couple of cloves and mix a bit of vegetable oil to it. Apply this paste on the affected area.

Garlic

Garlic is known for its medicinal properties and also as an antibiotic. Garlic is very effective in slowing down bacterial effects.

• Chew on a couple of garlic cloves to get relief.

• Mix salt with crushed garlic clove and apply this mixture directly to the affected tooth.

Onion

Onion, the most common food stuff used in India is known for its anti-microbial and antiseptic properties. Not only can onion help in providing relief from tooth pain but also helps in killing the germs that causes infection.

• Chew a raw onion for a few minutes to relieve the pain or

• Place the raw onion on the affected part.

Ice

People with sensitive teeth may find this option crazy, but it’s true. Ice cube helps alleviate tooth pain by numbing the nerves and gums.

• Put an ice cube in a plastic bag or wrap it in a piece of cloth. Hold it on your cheek near the affected tooth for a few minutes.

• You can also place the ice directly on the affected tooth but if you have an open nerve ending then the pain would be excruciating.

Warm water and salt

Make a mouth wash with a glass of warm water and common salt. Mix half a teaspoon of common salt in a glass of warm water. Use this mixture to rinse your mouth thoroughly. This solution extracts the liquid from the affected tissue thus reducing swelling on the nerves.

These above techniques are a temporary solution for your toothache. You should immediately see a dentist and find a permanent cure for your problem if it persists.

Source:   http://www.thehealthsite.com/oral-health/5-home-remedies-to-relieve-toothache/

How diabetes can be treated with naturopathy

   

India is the diabetes capital of the world and doctor’s blame our increasingly sedentary lifestyle, bad food habits and lifestyle choices like smoking and drinking for the progression of this dreaded disease. But did you know that India also has a method to treat this condition, sans all the ill effects of allopathic drugs? Yes, you can control diabetes with Naturopathy, here’s everything you need to know about the form of medicine and what you can expect when you opt for Naturopathy as a way to control diabetes.

In allopathy it is believed that a person suffers from diabetes because of the malfunctioning of the pancreas, but according to Dr Anjali Sharma, Senior Consultant, Naturopathy, Action Group of Hospitals, in Naturopathy a person suffers from diabetes due to, ‘pathological causes, hereditary factors, congenital problems, faulty lifestyle and the build-up of toxins in the body.’ 

We also asked Dr Anjali about the kind of treatment a person with diabetes can expect, here are excerpts form the interview.

What kinds of treatment will a person have to undergo once diagnosed with diabetes? 

A number of treatments can be administered to completely cure a person of diabetes. A few methods are:

• Diet therapy: This therapy is not only given to regulate blood sugar levels but a patient is also prescribed certain juices are to help improve the disorder.
• Hydrotherapy: In this form of therapy a combination of baths, packs and warm water enema are given as a remedy. Hydrotherapy  helps improve a person’s metabolism and controls blood sugar levels, enhances the body’s capability to use glucose and the enema helps cleanse toxins from the colon, detoxify the system. 
• Mud therapy: Helps eliminate toxins and corrects imbalances in the digestive and endocrinal systems (which are normally under-active in diabetics).
• Yoga: Yoga asanas improve functions of the liver, pancreas and digestive system that are beneficial in treating diabetes. some asanas that are prescribed are - Merudantasna (utthitapadasana), Vipareeta karani Mudra, Pavanamuktasana, Dhanurasana, Vajrasana, Kati Chakrasana, Udhva Hstottansana, Pada hastasana, Trikonasana, Matsyasana, Shavasana, Bhujangasana, Ardha Matsyndrasana, Ushtrasana, Paschimottanasana, Vakrasana, Surya Namaskar, Mandukasna and sukhshma Vyayamas.

The other methods given are chromo therapy, heliotherapy, pranayam and kriyas.

What lifestyle changes will they have to make? 

Diabetics will have to change a lot of their lifestyle patterns. They will have to adhere to a low carbohydrate diet and eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Apart from that, their Naturopathic doctor will teach them not only the dietary care, but also when to exercise, how much to exercise and what exercises to be done. They will be encouraged to get five days of exercise a week and learn to manage stress. Also they will be given a Dincharya (a set of daily activities they need to do) to be followed.

 How quickly can they expect a change in their sugar levels? 

The time from when treatments will show a changes is different for every individual, it depends on factors like

• Duration of disorder
• Level of control over their lifestyle
• Person’s general health status and body’s natural healing power
• Also, the effect of medications

  If all the factors are in synch a patient will be able to see changes from the first week of inculcating a Naturopathic lifestyle.

What precautions will they have to take while on the treatment? 

They will have to follow the instructions given by the Naturopathy physician completely. 

Are there any side effects of the treatment? 

Naturopathy treatments are natural, prescribed according to the individual’s ailment and is administered with constant monitoring, so there are no side effects.

What lifelong changes will they have to make? 

Patients will have to maintain a healthy lifestyle; they have to eat right, exercise hard and maintain their weight and body and stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Leading a healthy lifestyle is all you need to keep diseases away.

Source:  http://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/how-diabetes-can-be-treated-with-naturopathy/

Different heart diseases

Common cardiovascular conditions

Rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatic heart disease is caused by one or more attacks of rheumatic fever, which then do damage to the heart, particularly the heart valves. Rheumatic fever usually occurs in childhood, and may follow a streptococcal infection. In some cases, the infection affects the heart and may result in scarring the valves, weakening the heart muscle, or damaging the sac enclosing the heart. The valves are sometimes scarred so they do not open and close normally.

Hypertensive heart disease

High blood pressure of unknown origin (primary hypertension) or caused by (secondary hypertension) certain specific diseases or infections, such as tumor in the adrenal glands, damage to or disease of the kidneys or their blood vessels. High blood pressure may overburden the heart and blood vessels and cause disease. 

Ischemic heart disease

Heart ailments caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries and therefore a decreased blood supply to the heart.

Cerebrovascular disease

Disease pertaining to the blood vessels in the brain. A cerebrovascular accident or stroke is the result of an impeded blood supply to some part of the brain.

Inflammatory heart disease

Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), the membrane sac (pericarditis) which surround the heart, the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis) or the myocardium (heart muscle). Inflammation may be caused by known toxic or infectious agents or by an unknown origin.

Other

Rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatic heart disease is damage caused to the heart’s valves by rheumatic fever, which is caused by streptococcal bacteria.

Valvular heart disease

The heart’s valves keep blood flowing through the heart in the right direction.  But a variety of conditions can lead to valvular damage.  Valves may narrow (stenosis), leak (regurgitation or insufficiency) or not close properly (prolapse). You may be born with valvular disease, or the valves may be damaged by such conditions as rheumatic fever, infections connective tissue disorders, and certain medications or radiation treatments for cancer.

Hypertensive heart disease

Aneurysm

An aneurysm is a bulge or weakness in the wall of a blood vessel.  Aneurysms can enlarge over time and may be life threatening if they rupture. They can occur because of high blood pressure or a weak spot in a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms can occur in arteries in any location in your body. The most common sites include the abdominal aorta and the arteries at the base of the brain.

Atherosclerosis

In atherosclerosis the walls of your arteries become thick and stiff because of the build up fatty deposits. The fatty deposits are called plaques.  When this happens, the flow of blood is restricted. Atherosclerosis can happen throughout the body.  In the arteries of the heart it is known as coronary artery disease, in the legs, peripheral arterial disease. Atherosclerosis happens over a period of time and its consequences can be grave and include heart attack and stroke.

High blood pressure (hypertension)

High blood pressure is the excessive force of blood pumping through your blood vessels. High blood pressure causes many types of cardiovascular disease, such as stroke and heart failure, and renal disease.

Peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is caused by atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing and / or blockage of the blood vessels in the legs.  PAD manifests as pain in the legs when walking, which is relieved by rest. If you have PAD you are at greater risk of developing gangrene in your legs.

Ischemic heart disease

Angina

Angina manifests as pain in the chest that results from reduced blood supply to the heart (ischemia). Blood carries oxygen around your body and depriving the heart of oxygen has serious consequences.

Angina is caused by atherosclerosis, that is the narrowing and / or blockage of the blood vessels that supply the heart.

The typical pain of angina is in the chest but it can often radiate to the left arm, shoulder or jaw. If you have angina you will have noticed that the pain is related to exertion and is relieved by rest.

An angina attack is also associated with shortness of breath and sweating. If you are a woman you may experience angina slightly differently. Women appear to have more pain in their shoulder and middle back area, and more throat, neck, and jaw pain than men.

If your angina symptoms rapidly worsen and occur at rest this may presage an impending heart attack (myocardial infarction) and you should seek medical help immediately. 

Atherosclerosis

In atherosclerosis the walls of your arteries become thick and stiff because of the build up fatty deposits. The fatty deposits are called plaques.  When this happens, the flow of blood is restricted. Atherosclerosis can happen throughout the body.  In the arteries of the heart it is known as coronary artery disease, in the legs, peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Atherosclerosis happens over a period of time and its consequences can be grave and include heart attack and stroke.

Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease is also known as ischemic heart disease. It is caused by atherosclerosis, that is the narrowing and / or blockage of the blood vessels that supply the heart. It is one of the most common forms of heart disease and the leading cause of heart attacks and angina.

Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease refers to the disease of the arteries to the heart and their resulting complications, such as angina, heart attacks and heart failure.

Heart attack

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when the heart’s supply of blood is stopped.  A heart attack need not be fatal, especially if you receive medical attention and treatment to deal with the blockage soon after you have your heart attack.  But you are likely to be left with a damaged heart post heart attack.

A heart attack manifests as severe central chest pain, which may also radiate to the left arm, shoulder or jaw. Severe shortness of breath, sweating and feeling faint are common additional symptoms.

If you are a woman, however, your experience of heart attack may differ. Rather than acute chest pain you may have difficulty breathing, be very, very tired and have pain in your shoulder, jaw, or upper back pain.

Sudden death

Sudden death occurs when there is an abrupt loss of the heart's ability to pump blood. This may be because of heart attack or serious abnormality of the heart’s rhythm. 

Cerebrovascular heart disease

Atherosclerosis

In atherosclerosis the walls of your arteries become thick and stiff because of the build up fatty deposits. The fatty deposits are called plaques.  When this happens, the flow of blood is restricted. Atherosclerosis can happen throughout the body.  In the arteries of the heart it is known as coronary artery disease, in the legs, peripheral arterial disease. Atherosclerosis happens over a period of time and its consequences can be grave and include heart attack and stroke.

Cerebral vascular disease

Cerebral vascular disease is caused by atherosclerosis, that is the narrowing and / or blockage of the blood vessels that flow to the brain.  If the flow of blood is cut off this can lead to strokes and transient ischemic attacks.

Stroke

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. This can happen either when a blood vessel in the brain or neck is blocked or bursts. If this happens, your brain is deprived of oxygen and parts of your brain may be permanently damaged.

The consequences of a stroke can include problems with speech or vision, weakness or paralysis. 

Transient ischemic attacks

Just as stroke occurs when the flow of blood is blocked, TIAs happen when there is a brief blockage. The temporary loss of blood to the brain causes a brief, sudden change in brain function.  This may manifest as temporary numbness or weakness on one side of the body, loss of balance, confusion, blindness in one or both eyes, double vision, difficulty speaking, or a severe headache. But these will disappear quickly and permanent damage is unlikely.

If you have ever experienced symptoms like this you should seek medical advice.  A TIA can be a warning that you are at risk of stroke sometime in the future.

Inflammatory heart disease

Atherosclerosis

In atherosclerosis the walls of your arteries become thick and stiff because of the build up of fatty deposits. The fatty deposits are called plaques.  When this happens, the flow of blood is restricted. Atherosclerosis can happen throughout the body.  In the arteries of the heart it is known as coronary artery disease, in the legs, peripheral arterial disease. Atherosclerosis happens over a period of time and its consequences can be grave and include heart attack and stroke.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of the heart muscle. Some types of cardiomyopathy are genetic, while others occur because of infection or other reasons that are less well understood. One of the most common types of cardiomyopathy is idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, where the heart is enlarged. Other types include ischemic, loss of heart muscle; dilated, heart enlarged; hypertrophic, heart muscle is thickened.

Pericardial disease

The sac that encases the heart is called the pericardium and it can be affected by a variety of conditions such as inflammation (pericarditis), fluid accumulation (pericardial effusion) and stiffness (constrictive pericarditis). The etiology of these conditions varies.

Valvular heart disease

The heart’s valves keep blood flowing through the heart in the right direction.  But a variety of conditions can lead to valvular damage.  Valves may narrow (stenosis), leak (regurgitation or insufficiency) or not close properly (prolapse). You may be born with valvular disease, or the valves may be damaged by such conditions as rheumatic fever, infections connective tissue disorders, and certain medications or radiation treatments for cancer.

Other 

Congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease is when you are born with malformations of the heart’s structures.  This may be the result of the genes you inherited from your parents or adverse exposure to certain elements while still in the womb, such as some medicines or too much alcohol.  Congenital heart disease is a broad term and examples are holes in the heart, abnormal valves, and abnormal heart chambers.

Heart failure

Heart failure is a chronic condition that happens when the heart’s muscle becomes too damaged to adequately pump the blood around your body. If you have heart failure your heart still works but because it is less effective your organs do not get enough blood and oxygen. Heart failure tends to affect older people more often and manifests as shortness of breath, reduced exercise tolerance and swelling of the ankles. It results if the heart is damaged and weakened

Source:  http://www.world-heart-federation.org/cardiovascular-health/heart-disease/different-heart-diseases/

Chikungunya infections spread to Colombia

                           The mosquito borne disease has now spread to Central and South America

Colombia's health ministry has confirmed the first four cases of chikungunya virus in the country.

All four are thought to have contracted the mosquito-borne virus locally.

Tens of thousands of people have been infected in other Caribbean countries since the outbreak in the Americas began in December.

There is currently no vaccine or treatment for the mosquito-born virus, which resembles dengue fever and can cause fever, skin rash and joint pain.

Far from its usual home of Africa and Asia, it is the first time it has spread locally in the Americas.

"Based on what has happened in other countries, chikungunya could infect about 670,000 people in Colombia in the next few months," said Deputy Health Minister Fernando Ruiz.

Those most at risk were people living at altitudes of no more than 2,200m (7,200ft) above sea level, where the climate is warmer, Mr Ruiz said.

What is chikungunya?

• Viral disease spread by mosquitoes that bite during daylight hours

• No direct person-to-person transmission

• Name derives from a word meaning "to become contorted" from the African Kimakonde language

• Symptoms include the sudden onset of fever and joint pain, particularly affecting the hands, wrists, ankles and feet

• Most patients recover after a few days but in some cases the joint pain may persist for weeks, months or even longer

Source:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-29169337

Keeping a patient asleep during surgery is a delicate operation

Anaesthesia is said to be about 50 times safer now than in the 1980s

Anaesthetic awareness is a rare condition whereby patients wake up during surgery because they are underanaesthetised.

The word anaesthesia comes from the Greek and means “without sensation”. It describes a continuum whereby consciousness, recall and reflexes are gradually lost.

Anaesthetic awareness is a rare condition whereby patients wake up during surgery because they are underanaesthetised. As the latest research shows it doesn’t happen very often – but when it does it can have immediate physical and long-term psychological consequences.

There are two types of anaesthetic awareness: explicit awareness means the patient can recall the words and actions of the health professionals in the operating theatre. Implicit awareness usually presents some time after the surgery, with nightmares, sleep disturbance and flashbacks. At its worst, post-traumatic stress disorder may result.

Even with modern drugs and techniques, keeping a patient asleep during surgery is a delicate balancing act. Gaseous anaesthetics are used in combination with intravenous agents to induce and maintain general anaesthesia. When gaseous anaesthesia was used in higher concentrations in the past, the risks and side effects of having a general anaesthetic were greater.

Safer

Anaesthesia is estimated to be about 50 times safer now than it was in the 1980s. Modern muscle-relaxant drugs make it easier to perform major surgery. But anaesthetic awareness is more common among patients who receive neuromuscular blocking drugs, because they cannot signal to the medical team they are conscious.

Awareness is more likely to occur when an anaesthetic is given as an emergency, for example after trauma or to facilitate an emergency Caesarean section. Heart and lung surgery is also associated with a slightly higher incidence of anaesthetic awareness.

The portrayal of accidental awareness during general anaesthesia in the film Awake was at the extreme end of the spectrum. About 30 minutes into the film, the patient, played by Hayden Christensen, feels a scalpel cutting into his chest. The audience can hear the patient’s screams, while the onscreen characters see only a man, lying inert on the operating table, apparently unconscious. However, this portrayal owes more to artistic licence than to reality.

Source:  http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/keeping-a-patient-asleep-during-surgery-is-a-delicate-operation-1.1925963

Brain 'can classify words during sleep'

             

                                    EEG tests showed the brain continued to be active during sleep

The brain is still active while we are asleep, say scientists, who found people were able to classify words during their slumber.

Researchers from Cambridge and Paris introduced participants to a word test while awake and found they continued to respond correctly while asleep.

The sleeping brain can perform complex tasks, particularly if the task is automated, the study says.

Further research will now focus on how to take advantage of our sleeping time.

Writing in the journal Current Biology, the research team set out to study the brain's behaviour while awake and during sleep.

Using an electroencephalogram (EEG), they recorded the brain activity of participants while they were asked to classify spoken words as either animals or objects by pressing a button.

Unconscious behaviour

Participants were asked to press a button in their right hand for animals and in their left hand for objects.

This allowed researchers to track the responses and map each word category to a specific movement in the brain.

Then participants were asked to lie down in a darkened room with their eyes closed and continue the word classification task as they drifted off to sleep.

Once asleep, a new list of words was tested on participants to ensure that the brain had to work out the meaning of the words before classifying them using the buttons.

Their brain activity showed they continued to respond accurately, the researchers said, although it happened more slowly.

At the time, the participants were completely motionless and unaware.

Snooze button

Sid Kouider, from the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, said: "We show that the sleeping brain can be far more 'active' in sleep than one would think.

"This explains some everyday life experiences such as our sensitivity to our name in our sleep, or to the specific sound of our alarm clock, compared to equally loud but less relevant sounds."

He added that it was possible for people to perform calculations on simple equations while falling asleep and then continue to identify those calculations as right or wrong during a snooze.

Any task that could become automated could be maintained during sleep, he said. But tasks that cannot be automated would stop as sleep took over.

Their research could lead to further studies on the processing capacity of our sleeping brains, the study said.

"Research focusing on how to take advantage of our sleeping time must consider what is the associated cost, if any, and whether it is worth it," Mr Kouider said.

Source:  http://www.bbc.com/news/health-29166466